Reading on foot.ie earlier that the Brandywell may not be passed for use until mid March, which will mean our game on 02/03 will have to be moved, sounds a messy situation for them to be in 10 days before the season opens, even if they are away for the first game.

Familiarity could breed contempt for Dundalk skipperDundalk captain Stephen O'Donnell believes that the new format of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division will lead to an even more hotly contested campaign this year.